Are you interested in justice, sustainability transformations, and rural areas? The University of Vechta is inviting applications for up to 3 PhD scholarships within the doctoral college, funded by Hans-Böckler-Stiftung: “Justice Dimensions of Sustainability-Oriented Transformation Processes in Rural Areas” (PK 060)
The doctoral college, affiliated with the Vechta Institute of Sustainability Transformation in Rural Areas (VISTRA), investigates how sustainability-oriented transformations affect different groups and communities in rural areas — and, importantly, how questions of social justice, inequality, risk, and uncertainty emerge in these processes.
Possible research topics include:
• Energy affordability and new inequalities between urban and rural areas
• Spatial justice, livelihoods, social places and local resilience
• Risk, uncertainty and perceived (in)justice
• Justice in socio-technical transitions and digitalization
• Nature and climate protection policies and urban-rural relations
• Gender justice in transformation processes
• The role of trade unions in shaping just sustainability transformations
• And related topics
Relevant disciplines:
Human geography, social sciences, applied ethics, economics, sustainability science, psychology and related fields.
Both qualitative and quantitative approaches are welcome, with quantitative and mixed-methods research explicitly encouraged.
The doctoral college also offers thematic and methodological workshops and connects PhD researchers with national and international partners, including Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), BC3 – Basque Centre for Climate Change, Lund University, Utrecht University and the University of Vermont.
Funding: €1,650/month, plus possible health insurance and family allowances.
Duration: Up to 3 years, starting between June and September 2027.
Application deadline: November 2, 2026
Dissertation can be written in English.
German B2-Level is required!
Applicants are encouraged to contact Prof. Dr. Jana Zscheischler or Prof. Dr. John-Oliver Engler in advance to discuss their proposed projects.
Please submit your application exclusively via the Hans Böckler Foundation’s online application portal. The winners of the scholarship will be announced in May 2027.
Content-related questions: Judith-Maria Maruschke — judith-maria.maruschke@uni-vechta.de Application questions: bewerbung@boeckler.de
More information and application details are available through the University of Vechta: https://lnkd.in/dwqGGyfd and the Hans Böckler Foundation.